Although this technique of repetition situates this dialogue firmly within the early editions of the Colloquia, the themes contained within the dialogue itself simultaneously project us forward because we see the seeds of topics that
will continue to come up—and are expanded on—in the later dialogues. In fact, the dialogue that comes most to mind when reading
this exchange is the Virgo μισόγαμος (included in the present collection) and Virgopoenitens (not included as of yet). The two men's opposition to Aegedius's daughter joining a convent in this brief exchange, however,
is mild in comparison to the severe—yet colorful—accusations of corruption and hypocrisy that the character Eubulus hurls
against monks and nuns in the later dialogue in his attempt to convince the young Catharina not to join a convent. While Aegidius
merely refers to monks as kidnappers intent on luring his child away (novi...istosplagiarios), Eubulus is far harsher, calling them illoscrassos,semperdistentosmonachos, and warning Catharina that it will be harder to protect her virginity inside the convent than in her own home.

Besides providing the reader an example of a concrete topic that is merely touched upon in the formulae, and then expanded to provide the substance for no fewer than two dialogues in the Colloquia, this exchange between Aegidius and Leonardus also provides us a window into themes that recur throughout Erasmus' corpus.
One, of course, is his dislike for the cloistered life. Another theme is his rejection of scholastic theology in which he
received instruction while studying in Paris.31 In this dialogue, these opinions are uttered by Aegidius in response to Leonardus' inquiry about his sons. Whereas the eldest
son is married, minimumablegaviLutetiam...utMagisternobisredeatstultior,quamexierat.

Although this dialogue is the shortest one included in this collection, and belongs to the original "phrasebook" version of
a text intended to instruct people in daily conversation, it nevertheless surprises us when we start to unpack its layers.
In doing so we discover that themes that are seemingly glossed over in the quick back-and-forth exchange turn out to be of
fundamental importance—as well as often great sources of frustration—to its author, who addresses them in countless works
and letters throughout his life.